Catherine McWhorter

Catherine Houghton McWhorter, 75, of Alpharetta, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, November 7, 2006, surrounded by her loving family. Catherine Houghton was born May 2, 1931, in New York City, and lived in Boston, Massachusetts, Norfolk, Virginia, and Miami, Florida, where she graduated from Miami Edison Senior High School. At age 16, Catherine enrolled in the University of Miami and earned a B.A. in Education. She also earned a M.S. in Education from Nova University. At the University of Miami, Catherine was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority. A sorority sister, Viola McWhorter, arranged for her brother Bill to be Catherine’s blind date for the Delta Zeta Rose Ball. Not long afterwards, he proposed to Catherine. They were married 54 years and had a loving family with three children. Catherine came from a family of educators, and enjoyed a 30-year career as an elementary teacher in Miami: at Flagami, Kenwood, Coral Reef; and her favorite, Palmetto Elementary, where she stayed for 18 years, two as Assistant Principal. Her students loved her yearly tradition of reading aloud the book The Lion’s Paw, by Robb White. When they retired to Cocoa Beach, Florida, Catherine volunteered for the Cocoa Beach Library for more than fifteen years. In the Cocoa Beach Women’s Club, she served on the Scholarship Committee and enjoyed the Space Coast King fund raising activities which culminated in an annual Space Coast Ball. She was active in beach conservation efforts for sea turtles, sand dunes, sea oats, and was a spotter for the Right Whale Society. With patience and precision she created beautiful needlework and won many awards. A loving mother and grandmother, she was active and energetic in her love for children, books, crossword puzzles, movies, theater, parties, dancing, travel, seashells, cooking, music, watching space launches and her and her husband Bill’s favorite restaurant Bernard’s Surf. Catherine is survived by daughter Gail Hansen and son-in-law Bill Hansen of Alpharetta, Georgia, daughter Shauna Tucker of Birmingham, Alabama, son Shane McWhorter, PhD of Decatur, Georgia, grandson Alan Hansen of Albany, New York, granddaughter Jenna Hansen of Columbus, Ohio, and grandson Alexander Hansen of Alpharetta, Georgia. She is also survived by her sister Miriam Gautier and brother-in-law Joe Gautier of Dunnellen, Florida, brother Jon Houghton and sister-in-law Rae Houghton of Miami, Florida, brother James Houghton and sister-in-law Rosemarie Houghton, sister-in-law Charlene Houghton of Charlotte, North Carolina, sister-in-law Viola Waugh and brother-in-law James Waugh of Stuart, Florida, brother-in-law John L. McWhorter, of Miami, Florida, and 16 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by brothers Anthony, Richard, Charles, and Mike. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Friends of the Cocoa Beach Library, 550 N. Brevard Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. Memorial services will be held Saturday, November 11 at the Northside Chapel, 12050 Crabapple Road, Roswell, Georgia, 770-645-1414. The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 4:00 PM, and the Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 PM.

Catherine McWhorter

May 2, 1931 - November 7, 2006